Remote radio spectrum information acquisition

ABSTRACT

A scanner system provides real-time remote acquisition of a scanner&#39;s audio signals and visual display, and real-time remote control of scanner operations, including settings and functions. The scanner system may be used to gather information in a regional market by listening to geographically distant broadcasts available on radio spectrum frequencies. By synchronizing multi-spectrum monitoring, audio delivery, visual cueing, and control of spectrum reception, geographically independent persons can process scanner information as if they were physically present in the market. Thus, operators can gather information from public agencies and radio broadcasts from a remote market as if they were present in the market. The scanner audio signals may be used to produce traffic reports.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.10/463,056, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,406,543, filed Jun. 17, 2003, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/430,021 filed Nov. 29, 2002 entitled “REMOTE RADIO SPECTRUMINFORMATION ACQUISITION.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to information acquisition from, andcontrol of, remotely located scanners, and use of such scanners forcollection of news, traffic (e.g., traffic incident reporting), weather,police, fire and rescue activities, and the like.

Information gathering organizations are always looking for methods toimprove the information gathering process. Technology has provided manynew tools and opportunities for such organizations. The ability tomonitor public airwaves has provided a valuable tool to alert and informan organization of possible incidents and events. As technologyprogressed, Radio Spectrum Frequency scanners became a basic tool tocollect information. A scanner or scanning radio is a specialized radioreceiver designed to tune a wide range of frequencies. Frequencies arestored in channels and selectively scanned or the scanner can searchthrough an entire frequency range. Scanner receivers differ in contrastto radio communication receivers in that they usually do not have avariable frequency oscillator (VFO) and they usually do not cover thehigh frequency (HF) 3-30 MHz spectrum. Scanners usually scan and searchmuch faster than regular receivers.

Scanners allow a user to obtain information from organizations such asPolice, Fire-Rescue and Ambulance. Dispatching activities can inform alistener of possible issues that affect a community and impact activity,such as travel. One problem that occurs when trying to monitor radiobroadcast activities is the limited distance that these broadcastsignals cover. Signals are shared and transmission power is limited toavoid problems with the shared signals. To extend the reach of aninformation gathering organization, satellite collection agents wereemployed to gather information not physically present at a primarygathering office.

More advanced applications of radio frequency spectrum scanners placed ascanner into a remote location and used audio links to forward sound toa central monitoring facility. This solution provided a blind solutionmaking it difficult to attribute the sound of a transmission to thetransmitting entity. Being able to see a scanner display allows a userto cover many frequencies and view the frequency when a transmission isheard, thereby associating the transmission source. In addition to thedifficulty with the blind nature of a remote audio solution, any tuningor changes that were required to the remote unit required someone tophysically visit the unit in the field. Real-time interaction isextremely valuable, but not available to any of these legacy solutions.If an important transmission is heard, locking into a frequency allows auser to acquire addition information that may be lost if scanningresumes. Scanning of frequency banks is likely to occur when control isnot present.

Integration of audio, video and control are desirable to maximize thevalue of a remotely deployed unit. Some existing products provide alimited ability to meet this need. For example, products are availablewhich allow a scanner to be controlled by a personal computer (PC)located physically adjacent to the scanner and connected to an RS-232Cport of the scanner via a hardwired cable (PC interface). Softwareexecuting on the PC presents a simulated display of the scanner and theuser can control selected functions of the scanner by interacting withthe simulated scanner display. One such product is software associatedwith the Model No. IC-PCR100 and PCR1000 scanners from Icom Inc., Osaka,Japan. Another product is third-party software for the Model BearcatBC780XLT Trunk Tracker III scanner from Uniden, Fort Worth, Tex. Thethird-party software is WinScan® 780, Version 1.0 Scanner ControlSoftware, available from Pozilla Software Corp. Neither of theseproducts, nor the associated software, allow for remote usercapabilities. When using these PC interface products, the externalspeaker output jack of the scanner is connected to a speaker ormicrophone input of the PC, thereby allowing the scanner's audio to beplayed in real-time through the speakers of the PC. This scheme providesno ability to play the audio at a location remote from the PC.

Many software and hardware manufacturers produce audio and streamingproducts. Microsoft produces Windows Media, and RealNetworks, Inc.,Seattle, Wash., produces a plurality of streaming audio products. Thecurrent methods of streaming audio suffer from buffering and timedelays, as discussed in more detail below. Hardwired audio links havealso been employed to provide blind solutions.

FIG. 15 shows a typical prior art architecture for streaming audio andvideo data. Functional responsibilities are highlighted underneath eachof the components. FIG. 16 provides an overview of the processingrequirements to create and distribute an audio stream in accordance withthe prior art. More specifically, FIG. 15 provides an overview of thefunctions performed on an audio or video stream as a stream is preparedand delivered to clients or consumers of the data stream. The processingrequirements for both audio and video are practically identical, exceptthat video produces a significantly larger data stream.

Referring to FIG. 15, streaming data is broadcast from a head-end orsource (1401 through 1405). The most common form of stream is read froma file, which contains a previously encoded data stream. Streaming audiofrom a real-time source involves real-time encoding of audio or videosource. Once encoded, a stream is compressed to optimize networkbandwidth. Compression requires both time and processing cycles. After adata stream is compressed, it is prepared for broadcasting (1405).Broadcasting a data stream allows many users to attach to a data stream(1406 through 1408). A distribution infrastructure is built proportionalto the number of concurrent users receiving the data stream (1404 and1405). Streaming audio is the primary method of distributing audio onthe Internet today.

Streaming audio, especially in real-time, is constrained by parametersassociated to streaming technology. Streaming data operates mostefficiently on low overhead protocols, which reduces head end resourcesand network bandwidth requirements. Common distribution protocolleverages User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Multicast, or other broadcasttechnologies to deliver data over a stateless and connectionless networktransport. The combination of real-time encoding, broadcasting to manyusers, and connectionless or lightweight data delivery has severaladverse effects on an audio or video stream.

Buffering of streaming audio is problematic when applied to certainapplications that have real-time needs. An audio stream is buffered tomaximize compression. Compression is more effective when applied tolarger data sets. To achieve compression, the encoding source buffersdata to achieve better compression. The client or listener also buffersa data stream. Client buffering addresses network delivery issues suchas out of sequence packets and network throughput issues. Whilebuffering provides an enhanced experience for the average Internet user,buffering introduces a serious problem for a control-based system.Buffering delays transmission, which introduces a delay in the controlfeedback loop. For example, audio systems such as RealAudio® (a productof RealNetworks, Inc., Seattle, Wash.) use a buffering system to givethe illusion of real-time transfer. The software in such audio systemsdelay reproducing a transmission for a human perceptible period of timein the order of seconds to build a buffer of data. This process ensuresthat a smooth reproduction will occur even if there is a delay in thetransmission link.

The only conventional way to coordinate audio, video and control of ascanner in real time is to have personnel local to the scanner itself.In addition, scanning radio broadcasts covering large number of publicagencies requires several difference technologies, including legacyanalog systems, trunk systems and new digital transmission methods. Themajority of the scanner market is focused on non-commercial applicationssuch as the hobbyist. Thus, there is a significant problem in developingreal-time remote control scanner solutions that work across such variousplatforms. In sum, prior approaches and technologies continue to havedeficiencies, especially in processing information that requiresreal-time control and other remote interaction, as well as real-timelistening of audio.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a processing unitreceives an audio signal output of the scanner. The processing unitprepares the audio signal for transmission over a network by encodingthe audio signal output of the scanner to digitally encoded audio. Ascanner workstation is physically remote from the processing unit andthe scanner. The workstation includes an application for receiving thedigitally encoded audio and decoding the digitally encoded audio to anoriginal audio signal output of the scanner. A transport network havingat least two edge nodes is in communication at one edge node with theprocessing unit to receive the digitally encoded audio and is incommunication at the other edge node to provide the digitally encodedaudio to the scanner workstation.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, traffic reportinformation is produced using one or more scanners. Each scannerincludes an audio signal output. A processing unit receives an audiosignal output of the scanner. The processing unit prepares the audiosignal output for transmission over a network by encoding the audiosignal output to digitally encoded audio. The audio signal outputincludes events that affect traffic. A scanner workstation is locatedphysically remote from the processing unit and the scanner. Theworkstation includes an application for receiving the digitally encodedaudio and decoding the digitally encoded audio to an original audiosignal output of the scanner. A transport network having at least twoedge nodes is in communication at one edge node to the processing unitto receive the digitally encoded audio and is in communication at theother edge node to provide the digitally encoded audio to the scannerworkstation. A human agent receives the original audio signal outputs ofthe one or more scanners provided by the scanner workstation andconverts the original audio signal outputs of traffic incidents intotraffic report information.

In the first and second embodiments, the audio signal output of thescanner is delivered via a voice over IP process to the workstation inreal-time, or in near real-time without human -perceptible delaysassociated with buffering.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, selected functions of ascanner are controllable from a remotely located site in real time. Aprocessing unit is in communication with the input/output remote controlport of a scanner. The processing unit includes a digital interfaceassociated with the scanner and a remote control and video encodingapplication. A scanner control workstation is provided in a locationphysically remote from the processing unit and the scanner. Theworkstation includes a remote control and video decoding application. Atransport network having at least two edge nodes is in communication atone edge node to the processing unit and is in communication at theother edge node to the scanner control workstation. The transportnetwork, digital interface and remote control and video encoding anddecoding applications allow the workstation to control and visuallymonitor selected functions and settings of a scanner in real time and toenter commands to selectively control functions and settings of thescanner in real time.

In all of the embodiments described above, the transport network may bea public or private network, or may be a switched network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood whenread in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodimentswhich are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, thatthe invention is not limited to the precise arrangements andinstrumentalities shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a high level overview of one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual overview of one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention

FIG. 3 is a dataflow overview of one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention

FIG. 4 is a system components view of one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention

FIG. 5 is a process diagram in accordance with one preferred embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a hardware topology of one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a radio spectrum receive site component diagram of onepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a control workstation component diagram of one preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a dedicated circuit implementation of one preferred embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a switched circuit implementation of one preferred embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a multi-stations deployment of one preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 12 is an operator interaction model of one preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 13 is a hardware topology of FIG. 6 which shows exemplary softwareelements (programs) that execute in the different hardware elements.

FIG. 14 shows a user interface screen in accordance with one preferredembodiment of the present invention for remote monitoring andcontrolling of two different types of scanners.

FIG. 15 shows a typical prior art architecture for streaming audio andvideo data.

FIG. 16 shows an overview of the typical processing requirements tocreate and distribute an audio stream in accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to betaken as a limitation on the present invention. In the drawings, thesame reference letters are employed for designating the same elementsthroughout the several figures.

1. Overview of Present Invention

The present invention is described in the context of a Remote RadioSpectrum Information Acquisition System (hereafter, “scanner system”)which provides real-time remote acquisition of a scanner's audio signalsand visual display, and real-time remote control of scanner operations(e.g., settings and functions). More specifically, the attributes of thescanner system include:

-   1. Real-time attribution to transmission source.-   2. Real-time identification of frequencies spectrum-   3. Real-time support of spectrum allocation to analog signals, trunk    groups, digital signals-   4. Real-time remote programming of reception-   5. Real-time control functions supporting extended monitoring,    signal interaction, noise reduction, and override capabilities.-   6. Access local or remote.

One use of the scanner system is to gather information in a regionalmarket by listening to geographically distant broadcasts available onradio spectrum frequencies. By synchronizing multi-spectrum monitoring,audio delivery, visual cueing, and control of spectrum reception,geographically independent persons can process scanner information as ifthey were physically present in the market. Thus, operators can gatherinformation from public agencies and radio broadcasts from a remotemarket as if they were present in the market. The scanner system allowsan operator full control of spectrum receivers and provides audiosynchronized with visual information in real-time with control ofscanning devices.

The real-time audio capabilities can also be characterized as being nearreal-time without human-perceptible delays associated with bufferingused in streaming audio schemes.

High-level overviews and conceptual drawings (FIGS. 1-3) are provided asorientation and provide a basis for understanding detailed embodimentdescriptions. Component level drawings (FIGS. 4-5) are provided todescribe the major system elements. An embodiment of the scanner systemis defined through the Hardware, Software and Component Diagrams (FIGS.6-8 and 13) and corresponding descriptions. Field deployment optionsincluding switched circuit, dedicated circuit and multi-stationconfigurations (FIGS. 9-11) are included to demonstrate implementationsof the scanner system. Scanner interaction highlighting controlrequirements is included to demonstrate some of the required controlfunctions (FIG. 12).

2. Detailed Disclosure of Present Invention

A scanner system is described herein, which expands the realm of theinformation gathering process to support geographically distant sourcesincluding interaction capabilities required to extend and enhance theacquisition of information from a remote location. Details descriptionscover reference implementations to further define the remote informationgather system. Optional extensions and optional configurations aredescribed to qualify the additional capabilities of the scanner system.As an introduction, high level concepts and architecture are provided toorient further descriptions.

Information is available from many sources as a transmitted signal inthe radio spectrum. These broadcasts conform to local radio spectrumlegislative requirements, which allocate frequencies, transmission modesand transmission power. As a result, many information sources are onlyavailable for reception within a limited distance from a transmitter.For example, public agencies such as Fire-Rescue and Police use radiospectrum broadcast systems to communicate information. Due to signalsharing requirements, availability of a given signal is present in alimited physical area. Many such signals exist and offer a wealth ofpublicly available information. A remote information gathering systemoffers the capability to process the large amount of information, whichare not physically present to a user many miles away.

The Remote Radio Information Acquisition System is composed of severalphysical components. In addition, the physical location of thesecomponents is of vital importance to the operations of the system. FIG.1 shows the major system elements which include Radio Spectrum (101) fora given locations, a Receiver Station (102) for the Radio Spectrumsignals, Transport services (103), and User Stations (104). (Only oneUser Station (104) is shown in FIG. 1.) The Radio Spectrum signals areproduced by both public and private agencies available for publicconsumption. The Receiver Station (102) is comprised of a RF spectrumreceiver (10), alternately, referred to as scanner (10), and a bridge(12) that encodes and decodes audio, video, status and control.Transport Services (103) facilitate the exchanges of data from theReceiver Station (102) along with control functions with the UserStation (104). The final system component is the User Stations (104)where an operator(s) receives data from the Receiver Station (102),obtains status, and influences control of the Receiver Station (102).

FIG. 2 is a conceptual overview which outlines the functional activitiesthat occur within the scanner system. The Data Creation Process (201)occurs externally to the system. After the data is created, it isbroadcast out. The Data Acquisition Control Unit (202) is the startingpoint of the scanner system. Within the Data Acquisition Control Unit(202), three primary functions occur: 1. execution of control functionsin Processing Unit (14); 2. reception of broadcast data in the RadioSpectrum Receiver (10); and 3. creation of Data Streams (16). TheProcessing Unit (14) executes functions including manipulation of theRadio Spectrum Receiver (10), as well as other Receiver Station controlfunctions. Data Streams (16) facilitate the encoding of Audio, Video,and Status information. The Data Acquisition Control Unit (202) receivesinput from the Data Creation Process (201) along with the Data DeliveryControl Workstation (203). The Data Delivery Control (203) provides bothvisual and audio displays and also accepts input from users to activelycontrol the Data Acquisition Control Unit (202) functions.

FIG. 3 is a data flow diagram that depicts information flow facilitatedby the scanner system. External Data Creation (301) occurs from manysources. Police, Fire, Rescue, Ambulance, Travel advisory, emergencymanagement, commercial radio, citizen band radio, amateur band radio,commercial TV, weather band, transportation and maritime band are a fewof the potential sources of External Data Creation (301). The remoteData Acquisition Control Unit (302) collects the signals from externalbroadcast activity. Once acquired, this information is encoded anddelivered to Data Delivery Control Workstation (303). Data AcquisitionControl Unit (302) receives control commands from the Data DeliveryControl Workstation (303). FIG. 3 represents a simplified exchangebetween system components. However, many parallel information flowsbetween components are required in the actual scanner system. Additionaldetails are outlined herein.

The scanner system is comprised of three major components. FIG. 4 showssubcomponents of each major component. The Data Acquisition Control Unit(401) component is physically present in the city or town where the RFRadio Spectrum signals contain the desired content. An Antenna System(402) targets frequency ranges. The Antenna System (402) enhances RFSpectrum signals by maximizing usable signals. Multi-frequency/multimodesystems (403) are connected to Antenna System (402) and scan the RFSpectrum. Scanning activities support a range of transmission systemsincluding, but not limited to, analog systems, trunk transmissionsystems, and digital transmission systems. Multi-Frequency/MultimodeSystems interface to Processing Unit (405) where audio encoding, videoencoding and status information are processed. The Processing Unit (405)also accepts control activities from remote users. The Processing Unit(405) also interfaces to Transport (Transmission) Network (410). TheTransport Network (410) provides a method of transporting data betweenthe components of the Data Acquisition Control Unit (401) and the DataDelivery Control Workstation (420). The Transport Network (410) can takeseveral different forms. The Transport Network (410) may be, but is notlimited to, one of the following forms, a switched circuit network, ahardwired network, a private or virtual networks or a public networksuch as the Internet. The Transport Network (410) can be characterizedas having “edge nodes.” In the FIG. 4 embodiment, one edge node isconnected to the Processing Unit (405) of the Data Acquisition ControlUnit (401), and another edge node is connected to the Data DeliveryControl Workstation (420). The Transport Network (410) supports exchangeof Audio (411), Data (412), Streaming Data (413) and Control andFeedback (414). Data Delivery Control Workstation (420) provides theUser (425) interface. The Data Delivery Control Workstation (420)accepts Audio (421) in both digital and analog streaming formats. Audiois decoded and presented as sound to the User (425). The Data DeliveryControl Workstation (420) also presents Video (422) to the user. Video(422) is used to present activity from the Data Acquisition Control Unit(401). Video activity contains video images or pictorial representationof the Data Acquisition Control Unit (401) and its subcomponents (402through 404). The Data Delivery Control Workstation (420) also presentsStatus (423) information to the User (425). Status information isavailable to monitor components and subcomponents of the DataAcquisition Control Unit (401). Status (423) provides either graphicalor textual representation of activity within the components of the DataAcquisition Control Unit (401) to the User (425). The Data DeliveryControl Workstation (420) components provide Control (424) to the User(425). Control (424) allows the User (425) to provide commands andfeedback to the components of the Data Acquisition Control Unit (401).Control (424) provides manipulation of the Multi-frequency/MultimodeSystems (404), Antenna System (402), Processing Unit (405), including,but not limited to, audio and video encoding, transport interfaces andself-control on the Data Acquisition Control Unit (401).

FIG. 5 is a process diagram for the scanner system. The process diagramcontains the Data Acquisition Control Unit (510) processes and DataDelivery Control Workstation (520) processes. Data Acquisition Controlprocesses include Control (514), Audio Encoder (Codec) (513) and VideoEncoder (Codec) (512) processes. The Audio Encoder (513) process encodesthe Audio output from external Radio Spectrum receivers and forwardsdata over the transport network. Audio encoding requires near real-timeencoding and release of audio data to ensure appropriate controlactivities are realized. Video Encoder (512) encodes video images andforwards encoded images over the network transport services. Videoencoding requires near real-time encoding to ensure that appropriatecontrol loop and feedback are realized. Control Agent (514) provides theexecution of activities requested by a User (525) through the DataDelivery Control Workstation (520). The Control Agent (514) is dividedinto several subprocesses. A subprocess controls Radio Spectrum Receiver(511) device. Many Radio Spectrum Receivers (511) may be attached to theData Acquisition Control Unit (510). One subprocess may control a singleRadio Spectrum Receiver (511) or several Radio Spectrum Receivers (511).Several instances of Radio Spectrum Receiver Control subprocesses arepossible. FIG. 5 depicts a sample configuration that supports multipleData Acquisition Control Units (510) at a single receive site. A ControlAgent (514) subprocess to manipulate the Control Unit (510) itself ispresent on the Data Acquisition Control Unit (510). The subprocess isthe primary method to affect change and control on the process unithardware system. The Control Agent (514) subprocess provides commandshell access to operating system functions as a secondary method ofaffecting change and control. Control of an antenna system is providedas a subprocess of the Control Agent (514). A User Identificationsubprocess of Control Agent (514) is responsible for Authentication andEntitlements activity. Dynamic Registration Process (516) providesmanagement when a switched transport service is used in place of apersistent transport service or used when a non-persistent networkaddress is assigned to the Data Acquisition Control Unit (510). The DataDelivery Control Workstation (520) runs a Video Decoder (521) process, aControl Client (523) process, an Audio Decoder (522) process and aSecondary Control Client (524) process. The Video Decoder (521) processprovides status and video decoding of video sent from the DataAcquisition Control Unit (510). The Control Client (522) processprovides both graphical and textual interaction with Data AcquisitionControl Unit (510). The Audio Decoder (522) process establishes a linkwith the Audio Encoder (513) in the Data Acquisition Control Unit (510).The Audio Decode (522) process produces audible sound to the User (525).Secondary Control Client (524) provides an alternate control path tofacilitate control activities such as, but not limited to, operatingsystem interaction and control of the Data Acquisition Control Unit(510). Secondary Control Client (524) is optional, but improves thereliability and troubleshooting activities of the Data AcquisitionControl Unit (510).

Scanner System Embodiment

FIG. 6 shows construction and assembly of a scanner system. Morespecifically, FIG. 6 shows a hardware topology of the scanner system.FIG. 7 shows a component diagram of a radio spectrum receive site. FIG.8 shows a component diagram of a data delivery control workstation. FIG.9 shows a dedicated circuit implementation, and FIG. 10 shows a switchedcircuit implementation.

FIG. 6 illustrates physical system components that comprise the scannersystem. Major components of the hardware topology are the DataAcquisition Control Unit (601), the Data Delivery Control Workstation(620) and the Transport Network Services (610). In one simple form, theData Acquisition Control Unit (601) is comprised of computer (603) and ascanner (602). The computer (603) hosts all software functions and thescanner (602) provides the platform for the Radio Spectrum processing.The Data Delivery Control Workstation (620) is a computer (621) runningsoftware with audio and visual capabilities, which provides the physicalinterface to the User (622). The Transport Network Services (610)provides the virtual conduit between the two-computer (603 and 621)systems. The Transport Network Services provide the connectivity over ahardwired network or over long-haul distances. In most instances, publicor private network service providers supply Transport Network Services(610). Edge nodes are associated with the Transport Network Services(610) in the same manner as described above with respect to FIG. 4.

Applications of the concepts outlined for the scanner system haveseveral possible incarnations. One embodiment of the scanner system isoptionally implemented with custom software optimized for specifictasks. Another embodiment is implemented with general-purpose softwarepackages, which supply required aspects of the target functionality.Functional aspects of the system remain the same in eitherimplementation. General-purpose software packages provide requiredfunctionality, while custom software implementations optimize targetfunctionality. Implementations of the scanner system described hereinleverage several general-purpose software packages configured andintegrated with other scanner system components.

FIG. 7 illustrates details of a radio spectrum receive site. An AntennaArray (702) is built in one of the following configurations. The firstinstance of an Antenna Array (702) is single antenna, which is either asimple magnetic mount or a more advanced multi-band unit. Advancedantenna arrays are constructed with frequency specific ranges, as wellas directional antennas, which are selectable from the antenna farmsbased on transmission locations, atmospheric conditions, and targetspectrum ranges. Antennas are capacitance matched to waveguide cables,which are fed into the Radio Spectrum Receivers. A Radio SpectrumProcessor (703) is a self-contained unit that exposes a digitalinterface and audio interface. Examples of commercially availableprocessors (703) include Icom scanners (e.g., Model Nos. PCR100 andPCR1000) and Uniden Bearcat scanners (e.g., Model BC780XLT), asdiscussed above. An audio interface from the Radio Spectrum Processor(703) to the Processing Unit (704) provides analog output, which isimpendence matched to the audio encoder (705 and 708). Digital audiooutput from the Spectrum Processor (703) to the Processing Unit (704) ismanaged in the similar manner to analog, aligning interfaces orconverting signals to analog format. The digital interfaces on RadioSpectrum Processors (703) to the Processing Unit (704) support statusinformation, state information and support real-time configurationchanges. Digital interfaces on the Radio Spectrum Processor (703) can bea serial interface such as IEEE RS-232C or a network enabled unit suchas IEEE 802. The Processing Unit (704) locally attaches to the digitalinterface of the Radio Spectrum Processor with a serial or networkcables. The Processor Unit (704) is locally connected to the audiooutput of the Radio Spectrum Processor (703). The Processor Unit (704)incorporates an input audio line, which provides the hardware componentof the Audio Encoding (705 and 708). The digital interface of theProcessor Unit (704) and Spectrum Processor (703) supports a messagesexchange to affect changes and query status and state. The ProcessorUnit (704) is hosted on a common PC platform. The Data AcquisitionControl Unit (601) uses a PC running, but not limited to, MicrosoftWindows 2000 Operating System as the platform to physically hostsoftware and supply processing required at the Radio Spectrum ReceiveSite. The Processor Unit (704 through 711) is connected to transportservices installed at the Radio Spectrum Receive Site. Physicalconnections to supply transport services (711) that are supported, butnot limited to, network-based (e.g., IEEE 802) or switched services suchas ISDN or a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) line.

Software on the Radio Spectrum Receive Site (704 through 711) providesthe audio encoding (708) of the Radio Spectrum Processor, Video Encoding(709) and Control agents (707). Audio Encoders (705) leverage soundssystem hardware found on PC's. Standard audio and streaming softwarewill not support the requirements of the scanner system. Audio softwaremust perform in real-time without buffering found in standard streamingaudio (705 and 708) software. One preferred embodiment of the scannersystem leverages conventional Phone to PC audio software (705 and 708).Several audio encoding systems are available to facilitate the real-timeaudio link required by the scanner system. Off-the-shelf audio encodingsoftware commercially available from BuddyPhone (BuddyPhone Inc., SanDiego, Calif.), Net2Phone® (Net2Phone Inc., Newark, N.J.), and PC2Phone(software available from iConnectHere, a consumer division ofdeltathree, inc., New York) support appropriate PC-to-PC Audio Links.One particularly preferred embodiment, described in more detail in FIG.13, uses the BuddyPhone VoIp (voice over IP) solution. The scannersystem leverages the local PC Display on the Processing Unit (704) tofacilitate high performance Video encoding (706 and 709). Initialimplementation of the scanner system leverages a product that combinesboth Video encoding (706 and 709) and portions of the control agent(707). The Video display (706 and 709) and portions of the control agent(710) are facilitated by commercially available products, which provideremote control. Remote control functionality provided by softwarepackages such as, but not limited to, pcAnywhere® (Symantec Corp.),Remotely Possible (Avalon), and Virtual Network Control (VNC) (freeware,downloadable from AT&T Laboratories Cambridge web site, http colon slashwww dot uk dot research dot att dot corn slash vnc slash index dothtml), hereafter referred to as “Remote-Control-Packages.” VideoEncoding (706 and 709) activity is intrinsic to theseRemote-Control-Packages. Current Remote-Control-Packages have manyoperational issues that must be overcome through other means. ASecondary Control Agent (710) is preferably installed to provide commandline access to the system in the event that the Remote-Control-Packageis hung or disabled. The Secondary Control Agent (710) is a Secure Shell(SSH). SSH is available from several public sources such as OpenSSH(additional information available from: http colon slash www dot opensshdot corn slash) and GNU as a public domain package. A remotelyaccessible power reset device is also incorporated into Radio SpectrumReceive Site as yet another control function assuring recovery and resetcapabilities of the Radio Spectrum Receive Site. Another Control Agentis required to operate and interact with the Radio Spectrum Processors.A Control Agent (710) must be developed or acquired that matches theRadio Spectrum Processor (703) Digital Interface and logical messageinterface. Two pre-built software packages are available to operate withthe three Radio Spectrum Processors (703) defined above, namely, WinScan780 software for use with the Uniden Bearcat scanner, and softwareassociated with the Model No. IC-PCR100 and PCR1000 scanners from IcomInc. This software is installed on the Processing Unit (704).Alternatively, custom Control Agent (710) implements an interface suchas a message protocol to interact with the Radio Spectrum Processor(703).

Table 1 defines an example message format to interact with RadioSpectrum Processor (703). All externally visible or accessible ControlAgents (710) provide security through authentication and entitlementscontrols. One embodiment of the scanner system leverages operatingsystem users and passwords, but the scanner system is not limited tothis approach.

TABLE 1 Example Message formats for interface and controlling of RadioSpectrum Processor Command Syntax <command><OptionalParameters><Carriage Return> Commands Erase/Clear Memory Confirm/SetBeep Alert/Status Bit/Choose Banks/CTCSS Decode/ Trunk ID Monitor/CTCSSDetection function Request/Set CTCSS tone frequency/CTCSSfunction/Delay/SKIP function/Lock/Find Mode/Priority Channel/Bank/TuneFrequency/Radio Group Name/Priority Indicator/Receiver Modulation/ActiveBank/Step Size/Current Trunked Mode/ Weather Search/ID from talkgroup/Trunk ID Monitor Read/Register/Delete Lockout Registers InspectMode Read/Write Frequency Channel Priority Scan function Inspect/SetSquelch Notify Mode Signal Strength Request Radio System InformationRequest Squelch Status Get/Register frequencies in search skip Query/SetControl Channel Trunking Mode Inspect Currently Monitored Channel

The Radio Spectrum Receive Site runs software to facilitate registrationof dynamic network addresses (515) when the transport services aredeployed on a non-deterministic address. Network addresses assigned byTransport Network Service (712) providers can be dynamic, similar toDynamic Host Control on a local LAN. In this configuration, theProcessor Unit (704) at the Radio Spectrum Receive Site uses aregistration service to associate the currently assigned IP address to aDomain Name Services (DNS) name. Service providers such as Dynamic DNSNetwork Services LLC. or The Art of DNS are examples of Internet-basedservices that provide Domain Name Service for non-deterministic ordynamically assigned IP addresses. Using a well-defined name, the DataDelivery Control Unit can find the network location of a unit even ifthe network address is floating or changing.

Transport Network Services (link facilitating 712 to 801) areimplemented in any one of the following ways. Transport services optionsinclude, but are not limited to, private or public network connectionsas well as the Internet. Network connections support both hardwired(FIG. 9) or switched services (FIG. 10). Both the Data AcquisitionControl Unit (601) and the Data Delivery Control unit leverage networkinterfaces on the local network segments. TCP/IP services or othertransport service provide the necessary data transport. An alternativeconfiguration can leverage switched network services on a dial-up line.Switched services must invoke Point-to-Point Protocol or a similarTCP/IP Network stack. Network stack implementations on the ProcessingUnit (704) or in dedicated communication gear facilitate transportservices. Standard Network services including Domain Name Service (DNS),Internetworking Protocols, Routing, and Dynamic Host Control Protocol(DHCP) are within the scope of standard network services. Othertransport services are supported since transport services aretransparent to the application.

Switched Network Services using POTS lines or ISDN lines provide lowbandwidth connections. The scanner system adjusts automatically to thebandwidth available. Manual configuration of Audio Encoding (705) levelsof 8 bit or 4 bit levels enhance performance on marginal networkconnections. Many switched Transport Networks and some hardwiredTransport Networks services operate with Dynamic IP address allocation.The Data Acquisition Control Unit (601) is configured to publish an IPaddress to a DNS name. Dynamic Registration implements the requirementfor non-deterministic IP addressing.

FIG. 11 shows a multi-station deployment of the scanner system having aplurality of data acquisition control units. Specific hardware andsoftware products are shown in FIG. 11 for implementing one embodimentof a multi-station system.

FIG. 8 shows a data delivery control workstation. The workstation isimplemented with software that integrates with the Data AcquisitionControl Unit (601). Software implementation of Audio Decoding (803),Video Decoding (802) and Control Clients (804 and 805) are achieved onthe Data Delivery Control Workstation. In one preferred embodiment ofthe scanner system, the workstation is a standard PC running a MicrosoftWindows 2000 Operating System. The workstation may run other types ofWindows and non-Windows operating systems. Additional software runningon the Data Delivery Control Workstation includes Control Client (804),Secondary Control Agent (805), and Video Decode (802) and Audio Decode(803). The Control Client (804) and Video Decode (802) are facilitatedthrough the client agent of the Remote-Control-Package. Video decodingprovides access to the Radio Spectrum Processor status. The ControlClient (804) of the Remote-Control-Package is the user interfaceproviding control of the Radio Spectrum Processor. The Control Client(804) delivers WYSIWYG application control. Custom control agents(replacement 804 software) offer efficiencies over the standardRemote-Control-Package applications, whereas standardRemote-Control-Packages offer convenient implementation. SecondaryControl functions (805) are implemented using, but not limited to,Secure Shell (SSH). Audio decode (803) activity is performed usingPC-to-PC audio link software that is compatible with the Audio Encoder(708) Software of the Data Acquisition Control Unit (601). PC-to-PCAudio Link software initiate a connection with the Data AcquisitionControl Unit (601) via a predetermined DNS name. The PC-to-PC Audio Linksoftware provides sound quality controls and delivers audio with littleto no delay, which is very important when interacting with the RadioSpectrum Receive Site. The predetermined DNS name allows for thecontracting of Data Acquisition Control Agents (710), as well as otherservices. The Dynamic Registration Agent will associate the RadioSpectrum Receive Site with any dynamically assigned network address,which is used to support the switched Transport Network services.

Operation of the scanner system provides a tightly coupled interactionrequired to process the large amounts of information disseminated overthe radio broadcast systems. FIG. 12 shows User Interaction models thatare feasible when using the present invention. Once built, the DataAcquisition Control Unit and the Data Delivery Control Workstationsupport a tight interaction required to effectively scan manyfrequencies and broadcast groups. FIG. 12 highlights the type ofinteraction supported by the scanner system. After the Data AcquisitionControl Unit and the Data Delivery Control Workstation establish anactive session, a User processes audio and visual information providedthrough the system. Program Events (1210) are performed as if the RadioSpectrum Receiver were local. Users await Audible data: (1220) and reacton the quality of data (1222 through 1224) and process many frequenciesthrough visual confirmation (1225) as audio information arrives. Thescanner system supports, but is not limited to, the followinginteractions set forth in Table 2. A User listens to information andinitiates one of the following actions:

TABLE 2 Audio Events and Interaction Audio Event Action Broadcastreceived View Frequency, Attribute source of audio, Log and processaudio information Important broadcast Lock frequency, Suspend scanning,Log received and process audio information, Wait forconversation/announcement to complete, Release lock and resume scanningNoise—Received Once Ignore Noise—Received Adjust signal strength(Squelch) repeatedly or Remove frequency from scanning rotation on atemporary basis. Individual Signal Poor View signal strength, considermoving signal to another Radio Spectrum Processor where signal strengthis amplified. All Broadcasts are weak Adjust audio feed volume up. withpoor atmospheric conditions All broadcasts are Adjust Radio SpectrumProcessor audio indistinguishable with output to lower volume.acceptable volume

Using visual feedback, a User invokes controls to adjust the RadioSpectrum Processor or Processor Unit. Visual feedback loop is alsoleveraged as a secondary information source. Administration andtechnician activities are examples of events requiring control, whichare driven by visual feedback. Table 3—Visual Events and Interaction,provides a non-exhaustive list of examples of events and controlsleveraging video data.

TABLE 3 Visual Events and Interaction Event Control Visual Data Dailyoperational frequency Pull frequency banks, Trunk Visually inspectsenabled/ inventory check groups, and other disabled scanning banksconfiguration Information and trunk group status from runningconfiguration New broadcast source Add frequency/trunk groupConfiguration editor, and description and assign test operation, Verifyscanning priority reception and Signal strength and quality. Weathercheck Manually adjust to local Verify frequency weather band Marketsurvey Allow free scanning Wait for reception and verify frequency/trunkgroup. Primary frequency Manually adjust to primary Configurationverification, validation banks and verify receptions Signal strengthcheck and Audio quality synchronization. Radio Spectrum Receive Attachto Secondary Wait for Control Client to Site suspends or un- ControlAgent and reset attach to the Control Agent responsiveRemote-Control-Package

FIG. 13 is a hardware topology of FIG. 6 which shows exemplary softwareelements that execute in the different hardware elements and thelocations in which they exist. The scope of the present inventionincludes software elements that are functionally equivalent to theexemplary software elements. These software elements were describedabove and thus no additional description is provided herein. FIG. 13merely clarifies where the various software elements execute in onepreferred embodiment of the scanner system.

FIG. 14 shows a user interface screen in accordance with one preferredembodiment of the present invention for remote monitoring andcontrolling of two different types of scanners, namely the UnidenBearcat and Icom scanners discussed above. The user interface screenallows a user at the Data Delivery Control Workstation to view scannerdata in real-time and to control scanner operations in real-time.Scanner audio data is also available in real-time (or in near real-timewithout delays associated with buffering used in streaming audio andvideo schemes) at the Data Delivery Control Workstation, as discussedextensively above, by using audio encoding/decoding and audio transportprocesses.

One preferred use of the scanner system is for a user to monitor aremotely located scanner or bank of scanners for events that affecttraffic and to convert the events into traffic report information forcreation of traffic reports. If an important transmission is heardrelating to an event that affects traffic, the operator at theworkstation can use the remote control application software to lock intothe current frequency of the scanner and acquire additional informationregarding the event that may be subsequently transmitted and picked upby the scanner on the current frequency.

The present invention may be implemented with any combination ofhardware and software. If implemented as a computer-implementedapparatus, the present invention is implemented using means forperforming all of the steps and functions described above.

The present invention may be implemented with any combination ofhardware and software. The present invention can be included in anarticle of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products)having, for instance, computer useable media. The media has embodiedtherein, for instance, computer readable program code means forproviding and facilitating the mechanisms of the present invention. Thearticle of manufacture can be included as part of a computer system orsold separately.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

1. A computer-implemented apparatus for receiving audio signals from ascanner, the apparatus comprising: (a) a processing unit which receivesan audio signal output of the scanner and prepares the audio signal fortransmission over a network by encoding the audio signal output of thescanner to digitally encoded audio; (b) a scanner workstation physicallyremote from the processing unit and the scanner, the workstationincluding an application for receiving the digitally encoded audio anddecoding the digitally encoded audio to an original audio signal outputof the scanner; and (c) a transport network having at least two edgenodes, the transport network being in communication at one edge nodewith the processing unit to receive the digitally encoded audio andbeing in communication at the other edge node with the scannerworkstation to provide the digitally encoded audio to the scannerworkstation in real-time, or in near real-time, and without buffering ofthe digitally encoded audio.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein theprocessing unit is physically connected to the audio signal output ofthe scanner.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transport networkis physically connected at the one edge node to the processing unit andis physically connected at the other edge node to the scannerworkstation.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transport networkis a public or private network.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thetransport network is a switched network.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the transport network is a wireless network.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the transport network delivers the digitally encodedaudio via a voice over IP process.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe voice over IP process is unidirectional.
 9. A computer-implementedapparatus for controlling and monitoring selected functions and settingsof a scanner in real time, the scanner including an input/output remotecontrol port, the apparatus comprising: (a) a processing unit incommunication with the input/output port of the scanner, the processingunit including: (i) a digital interface associated with the scanner, and(ii) a remote control and video encoding application; (b) a scannercontrol workstation physically remote from the processing unit and thescanner, the scanner workstation including a remote control and videodecoding application; and (c) a transport network having at least twoedge nodes, the transport network being in communication at one edgenode with the processing unit and being in communication at the otheredge node to the scanner control workstation, wherein the transportnetwork, digital interface and remote control and video encoding anddecoding applications allow the workstation to control and visuallymonitor selected functions and settings of a scanner in real time and toenter commands to selectively control functions and settings of thescanner in real time.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the transportnetwork delivers the digitally encoded audio via a voice over IPprocess.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the voice over IP processis unidirectional.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processingunit receives an audio signal output of the scanner and prepares theaudio signal for transmission over a network by encoding the audiosignal output of the scanner to digitally encoded audio, and theworkstation includes an application for receiving the digitally encodedaudio and decoding the digitally encoded audio to an original audiosignal output of the scanner, and the transport network receives thedigitally encoded audio and provides the digitally encoded audio to thescanner workstation in real-time, or in near real-time, and withoutbuffering of the digitally encoded audio, wherein the audio signaloutput of the scanner is synchronized with the visually monitoredfunctions and settings.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein theprocessing unit is physically connected to the input/output port of thescanner.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the transport network isphysically connected at the one edge node to the processing unit and isphysically connected at the other edge node to the scanner workstation.15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the transport network is a publicor private network.
 16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the transportnetwork is a switched network.
 17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein thetransport network is a wireless network.
 18. The apparatus of claim 9wherein the remote control application in the workstation allows theworkstation to enter commands to control volume of the scanner.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein the remote control application in theworkstation allows the workstation to enter commands to control squelchof the scanner.
 20. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the remote controlapplication in the workstation allows the workstation to enter commandsto control the frequency or channel of the scanner.
 21. The apparatus ofclaim 9 wherein the remote control application in the workstation allowsthe workstation to enter commands to control scanning banks of thescanner.
 22. A computer-implemented apparatus for creating trafficreport information using one or more scanners, each scanner including anaudio signal output, the apparatus comprising: (a) a processing unitwhich receives an audio signal output of the scanner and prepares theaudio signal output for transmission over a network by encoding theaudio signal output to digitally encoded audio, the audio signal outputincluding events that affect traffic; (b) a scanner workstationphysically remote from the processing unit and the scanner, theworkstation including an application for receiving the digitally encodedaudio and decoding the digitally encoded audio to an original audiosignal output of the scanner; (c) a transport network having at leasttwo edge nodes, the transport network being in communication at one edgenode with the processing unit to receive the digitally encoded audio andbeing in communication at the other edge node with the scannerworkstation to provide the digitally encoded audio to the scannerworkstation in real-time, or in near real-time, and without buffering ofthe digitally encoded audio; and (d) a user workstation including anaudio output and a user interface which allows a human agent to hear theoriginal audio signal output of the one or more scanners provided by thescanner workstation and enter traffic report information into the userinterface based upon the events that affect traffic in the originalaudio signal output.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the transportnetwork delivers the digitally encoded audio via a voice over IPprocess.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the voice over IP processis unidirectional.
 25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the processingunit is physically connected to the audio signal output of the scanner.26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the transport network isphysically connected at the one edge node to the processing unit and isphysically connected at the other edge node to the scanner workstation.27. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the transport network is a publicor private network.
 28. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the transportnetwork is a switched network.
 29. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein thetransport network is a wireless network.
 30. The apparatus of claim 22wherein there are a plurality of scanners and at least some of thescanners are in locations remote from one another.